Tag Archives: music

Tale As Old As Time – Beauty and the Beast

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I fell in love with the story of Beauty and the Beast back in 1991 when the Disney movie came out. I knew the lyrics to every song by heart and watched the movie over and over. So it was a dream come true to watch Beauty and the Beast come to life on stage in Singapore. To be honest, I was even more excited than Anya before the show!

Beauty and the Beast is the story of Belle, a beautiful young woman trapped in a provincial town who finds her escape in the books that she loves to read, and the Beast, a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. Belle promises to stay with the Beast in his castle in exchange for her father’s freedom. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self.

Belle

With a dreamy, far-off look and her nose stuck in a book

The story is complicated by Gaston, the macho man who is all brawn and no brains. He is determined to marry Belle, even if it means resorting to despicable means and emotional blackmail. The scene in the tavern where his admirers tell Gaston how much they adore him is one of my favourites because of the high energy level and the comic relief provided.

Gaston

No one’s slick as Gaston, no one’s quick as Gaston’s

It was wonderful to see how the enchanted humans in the Beast’s castle were thoroughly convincing as the household objects they were representing. As in the movie, Lumiere the candelabra stole the show with his sharp wit and flamboyance. Little Chip the teacup was utterly endearing even though we could see only his head for most of the show. Anya was entranced by ‘Be Our Guest’ and declared that her favourite characters in that song were the plates!

enchanted

I can’t wait to be human again

Be Our Guest!

Be Our Guest!

There was great chemistry between Belle and the Beast, from the initial tension between them to their budding romance, and you cannot help but root for them to fall in love and live happily ever after. I liked that the Beast was more petulant and gruff than the version in the movie because it accurately captures his frustration at being trapped in a hideous body and his awkwardness at not having interacted with another human being for such a long time.

rose

If he could learn to love another, and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell…

Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast

The entire cast of Beauty and the Beast is superb and completely deserving of the standing ovation they received at the end of the show. Belle’s voice is outstanding and amazing, and it is worth watching the show just to hear her sing. Beauty and the Beast is truly a must-watch for any age and is the best musical I have seen in years. Do not miss it!

TICKETING AND SHOW INFORMATION

SEASON: 21 Mar – 19 April 2015
PERFORMANCE TIMES: Tue – Fri 8pm; Sat 2pm & 8pm; Sun 1pm & 6pm
TICKET PRICE: From $65 (Excludes the booking fee of $3 per ticket)
THROUGH INTERNET: Marina Bay Sands Ticketing or SISTIC
BY PHONE: 6688 8826
IN PERSON AT: Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 Lobby)

Disclaimer: We received two complimentary tickets to watch this performance. All opinions are my own. All photos used are from Base Entertainment.

Frozen Sing-A-Long Screening

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Frozen Sing-A-Long

Can’t let it go? From 11–17 December 2014, selected GV locations will be screening the Sing-A-Long version of ‘Frozen’ at $8 per ticket. GV Movie Club members who purchase 2 tickets to Frozen Sing-A-Long will stand to win 1 of 5 Disney’s ‘Frozen’ hampers (worth $190 each).

We were at GV Grand for a media preview today and there were lots of fun activities for the kids. Just to be clear, the screenings from 11-17 December will not have any special activities, but I’m sure the kids (and some adults!) will have a great time singing along to all the songs in the movie anyway. Anya and Adam certainly had a blast singing away in the theatre!

making Olaf from modelling clay

making Olaf from modelling clay

decorating a snowflake bookmark

decorating a snowflake bookmark

frozen treat before Frozen Sing-A-Long

frozen treat before Frozen Sing-A-Long

colouring Elsa

colouring Elsa

Music Crash Course at The Eighth Note

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The husband bought me a little ukulele early this year because one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to learn an instrument. It was sitting around collecting dust for a really long time until I started a music crash course at The Eighth Note.

The music crash course is held over 4 weeks x 1 hour and you can choose from ukulele, guitar, pop keyboard and drums. I have absolutely no music background whatsoever and wasn’t expecting to learn all that much after four lessons but I was surprised!

In the short one hour of my first lesson, I learnt about the anatomy of a ukulele, how to read a chord diagram, and a few basic chords. By the end of that lesson, I could play 2 songs. Really a great sense of satisfaction! It helps that my teacher Neil is very patient but also strict enough to ensure I’m not slacking off. He took the time to find out the kind of songs I like so that I could learn them and to correct my mistakes.

After completing four weeks of lessons, I’m able to play many of my favourite songs on the ukulele and I also learnt different ways of strumming to fit different types of songs. For example, I can now play I’m Yours by Jason Mraz, Count on Me by Bruno Mars, a whole bunch of National Day songs including my all-time favourite Home, and at least 3 of Adele’s songs. And that’s just to name a few!

with my ukulele teacher, Neil

with my ukulele teacher, Neil

playing some simple songs

playing some simple songs

Anya has been taking the same ukulele crash course but she’s doing 8 weeks x 30 minutes since kids tend to have a shorter attention span. She’s about halfway though and can play a few chords and songs. I think she’s enjoying herself because she keeps wanting to borrow my ukulele to practise.

Anya and her teacher

Anya and her teacher

The music crash course is just $40 an hour and I think it’s utterly worth it. It’s great for complete beginners like me or if you want to try a new instrument before deciding to pursue it more seriously. I’m definitely impressed with my experience at The Eighth Note and will turn to them to fulfill any future New Year’s Resolutions!

The Eighth Note (Main Branch)
 19 Lorong Kilat #01-04
 Singapore 598120
 Tel: 64651418
 Email:

The Eighth Note (Parkway Centre)
Parkway Centre #02-02
Singapore 449408
Tel: 63480628
Email:

GIVEAWAY

I have a 4 weeks x 1 hour music crash course (or 8 weeks x 30 minutes for a child) to be won by one lucky reader! The winner can choose from ukulele, guitar, pop keyboard and drums.

To qualify, simply do the following by Saturday, 29 November 2014, 2359H (Singapore time):
1. Like the ‘In the Wee Hours’ Facebook page.
2. Like the ‘The Eighth Note‘ Facebook page.
3. Like, share and comment on this Facebook post telling me (a) which instrument you want to learn and (b) at which branch of The Eighth Note!

Terms & Conditions: This giveaway is open to Singapore residents only. Winners will be contacted through Facebook message and will have 24 hours to respond, failing which a new winner will be drawn. All incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries will be verified before the winners are announced. To be fair to our sponsors, please note that all fake Facebook accounts (e.g. accounts set up purely to take part in contests with no or very few real friends) will also be ineligible to win.

Sensorium 360° at Singapore Art Museum

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I’m rather disappointed that there’s no Art Garden at Singapore Art Museum this year. The kids love it and we usually go more than once if we can. But we managed to check out Sensorium 360° the other day and there are some installations that are appealing to and suitable for kids. It’s an exhibition of Southeast Asian and Asian contemporary art that explores how sensory experiences locate us in understanding the world and knowing the self and is on until 22 October.

Sensorium 360°

Sensorium 360°

I was there with Anya and her classmate and The Overview Installation was their favourite and they went through it at least 3 times! You have to put on a pair of goggles that replaces your normal viewpoint with an image streamed from closed-circuit televisions so you see yourself from a third-person point of view or from above or ‘god view’. I tried it too and it’s like a computer game and the effect is quite disorienting. A simple maze becomes extremely difficult to navigate!

The Overview Installation

The Overview Installation

this is what they see

this is what they see

making their way through the maze

making their way through the maze

Another favourite was noon-nom where the kids got to jump around and hide in a roomful of boob cushions. The kids called it the xiao long bao room and I can totally see the resemblance. The installation supposedly questions prevailing attitudes towards the female breast in order to reassert its significance as a natural form that symbolises nourishment and comfort, and emphasises the importance of touching and feeling as a means of reconnecting in human relationships.

noon-nom

noon-nom

boobs everywhere!

boobs everywhere!

Cage  uses green lasers to create two virtual cages and is supposed to trigger instinctive responses of disorientation and even anxiety in viewers. The kids didn’t seem anxious at all and had fun trying to climb over, wriggle under or squeeze in between the laser beams without getting the light cut off.

Cage

Cage

climbing over laser beams

climbing over laser beams

In The Sensoroom, visitors can relax in a reading corner of specially selected books and participate in the activity stations that explore the senses of the human body. Some of the items in the touching station were missing and probably taken away by other kids (or adults).

The Sensoroom

The Sensoroom

what's inside?

what’s inside?

There were a few other rooms that the kids didn’t find that interesting and one that was full of glass so I was a bit nervous when they were in that particular room. But we still spent a couple of hours there and I had to drag them away eventually. You can refer to the exhibition guide for more information about the different installations in Sensorium 360°. I like how all the installations challenge the way we use our senses and our perceptions.

There is a Tree in the Heart of Death

There is a Tree in the Heart of Death

smells

smells

leaving a message

leaving a message

hanging up her disc

hanging up her disc

honey

Project: Honey Sticks (6,425)

My favourite was Twinning Machine 4.0 because I actually managed to take a photo of myself (taking a photo of myself). An interactive installation, the video captures the viewer and projects the life-sized image onto a screen, but with a few seconds’ delay, so it really feels like you are looking at a twin or a ghost of yourself.

Twinning Machine 4.0

Twinning Machine 4.0

I'm there too

I’m there too

I’m glad we managed to have a good time at Singapore Art Museum even without Art Garden but I’m really hoping that they will bring it back next year in some form or other. Sensorium 360° is until 22 October and there are programmes you can sign up for and worksheets for older children to guide them along.

Read more about Sensorium 360° at Mum in the Making.

The Nightingale by SRT’s The Little Company

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The Nightingale

The Nightingale

We watched The Nightingale by SRT’s The Little Company today and really enjoyed it. Before the show, I wasn’t sure if Adam would be able to sit still throughout because he didn’t know the story and was quite restless during the last play we watched. But the catchy music and lively dance moves caught his attention right from the start, and by the end, he was asking to watch it again.

The Nightingale is based on Hans Christian Anderson’s story about an emperor who falls in love with the melodious singing of a nightingale and forces the little bird to live in a gilded cage so that it could not leave his side. Eventually, the bird is replaced by a mechanical version made with precious metals and stones and the emperor’s attention is momentarily captured by his new toy until it breaks down one day. He falls gravely ill and his old friend the nightingale returns to his side to sing him back to health.

hurray for the Emperor of China

hurray for the Emperor of China

The play opens with the Emperor, his Protector and two maids singing about how great he is and we get a glimpse into the life of the Emperor. He has everything he wants but is constantly bored and restless and always looking for something new to entertain him. We see how the Emperor’s throne is just a cage and even though he is powerful, he is stuck in the palace.

The Emperor reads about the nightingale and sets his heart on hearing it sing. He sends his Protector to discover where the nightingale can be found. A maid agrees to lead the Emperor to the nightingale. But since he’s afraid of leaving the palace, the Protector is sent in his place to bring the nightingale to the palace.

the search is on

the search is on

finding the nightingale

finding the nightingale

The Emperor has a cage made for the nightingale and it mirrors his own throne. He attaches a golden chain to the nightingale and does not allow it to leave the palace. Eventually, homesick and heartbroken, the nightingale stops singing and the Emperor chases it away. He receives a mechanical nightingale and he clings desperately to it, because unlike the real nightingale, it cannot leave him. The wind-up bird breaks down, the Emperor falls terribly ill, and the nightingale returns to sing to him.

The Emperor leaves his palace to see the place that inspires the nightingale’s song and he learns the true meaning of freedom, happiness, love, and friendship. There are quite a few meaningful messages in the play, but they are deftly handled with a light touch and in an entertaining manner that is never too heavy-going for the little ones in the audience.

the Emperor and the nightingale

the Emperor and the nightingale

we loved the show!

we loved the show!

As we left the theatre, we were happily singing bits of the closing song and talking about our favourite characters. Since they enjoyed the English version so much, I’m sure they will like the Chinese one as well!

The Nightingale is playing at DBS Arts Centre – Home of SRT until Sunday, 14 September and tickets are available from SISTIC. You can also get tickets for 夜莺, the Chinese version of The Nightingale (playing from 18 September to 11 October) from SISTIC.

 

Disclaimer: We received three complimentary tickets to watch this performance. All opinions are my own.

One of My Favourite Things: The Sound of Music

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Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start! When I was a little kid, I loved watching the film version of The Sound of Music. I knew most of the songs by heart and would sing them all the time. So it was such a treat to be able to watch The Sound of Music on stage last night. From the moment the show started, I was tempted to sing along with the songs (but refrained for the sake of those around me.)

The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music tells the uplifting true story of Maria, the fun-loving governess who changes the lives of the widowed Captain von Trapp and his seven children by re-introducing them to music, culminating in the family’s flight across the Austrian mountains. The heartwarming story and the unforgettable songs make The Sound of Music the best loved musical of all time, delighting both young and old.

Six of the seven Von Trapp children are played by 18 Singapore kids picked from over 400 applicants. The children were energetic and adorable and it’s lovely to know that we have such talented little ones in Singapore. The scenes with the children were my favourite because they brought so much enthusiasm to their roles and there was obvious chemistry between them.

The Sound of Music The Sound of Music

I was especially moved by the scene where Captain von Trapp sang Edelweiss with such emotion to subtly declare his loyalty to Austria and say goodbye before escaping over the mountains with the entire Von Trapp family. To be honest, when I watched The Sound of Music as a child, the significance of the song, and the other scenes involving the union of Austria with Germany, completely escaped me.The Sound of Music The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is a must-watch and is a show the whole family can enjoy. Catch The Sound of Music at Grand Theatre, MBS from now until 10 August 2014 before they say ‘So Long, Farewell’!

TICKETING AND SHOW INFORMATION

SEASON: 11 July – 10 August 2014
PERFORMANCE TIMES: Tuesday – Friday 8pm; Saturday 2pm & 8pm; Sunday 12pm & 6pm
TICKET PRICE: From $65 (Excludes the booking fee of $3 per ticket)
THROUGH INTERNET: BASE Entertainment, Marina Bay Sands Ticketing or SISTIC
BY PHONE: 6688 8826
IN PERSON AT: Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 Lobby)

How To Catch A Star

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We love books by Oliver Jeffers so I rushed to get tickets for How to Catch a Star when they were released. I wasn’t sure initially if I should buy 2 or 3 tickets because I didn’t know if Adam would appreciate the show (and the tickets weren’t exactly cheap) but I’m so glad I decided to bring them both because the production was worth every cent.

Before the performance, the cast members interacted with the members of the audience and asked some of the kids for their names, which were later used in the show. I loved how the show brought the book to life with lively music, comical sound effects and skillful puppetry. It was fun, humourous, interactive and the physical comedy was very appealing to the younger kids.

The kids were really into the show and responded enthusiastically to the interactive parts of the performance. I was especially gratified to see Adam enjoying himself. I must confess that I sometimes leave him out and only take Anya to watch a show because I am somewhat sceptical about his level of understanding and appreciation. I think he’s proven that he deserves some credit!

the Boy mingling with the audience before the show

the Boy mingling with the audience before the show

picture with the cast after the show

picture with the cast after the show

The kids are raring to catch the other shows being brought in by ABA productions and the next one is Hairy Maclary & Friends in October. I’m very keen on A Midsummer Night’s Dream in November because that was my O-Levels Literature text!